Siamese (cat)

The ideal siamese is gentle, amenable to handling and gives the appearance of a well balanced cat, both physically and temperamentally.

General: The ideal Siamese is gentle, amenable to handling and gives the appearance of a well balanced cat, both physically and temperamentally. It should "fit together", all parts balanced without emphasizing any one particular quality. Medium in size, long and svelte. A distinct combination of fine bones and firm solid muscles giving a surprising sensation of solid weight without excessive built. A fully mature Siamese, at approximately two years of age, has the grace, elegance and beauty of no other cat. Type over color is preferred at all times.

Head: The head should be long, evenly proportioned, tapering wedge with straight lines, to a fine muzzle. A wedge, as viewed from the top or front, is created by straight lines from outer ear bases along sides of muzzle. The total wedge starts at the nose and flares out in straight lines to the ears forming a triangle, without a break in jaw line at the whiskers. When the whiskers are smoothed back, the underlying bone structure is apparent. PROBING of the whisker pad area for a pinch or break is not allowed. Allowance WILL BE MADE FOR JOWLS IN THE STUD CAT. Skull to be flat and the nose to be a continuation of the forehead, this is the area between the ear base and the top of the eye opening. In profile, a straight line, without a dip or a rise, is seen from the center of the forehead to the tip of the nose and from the tip of the nose to the bottom of the chin (chin to be included in the profile picture). Chin to be firm and same vertical plane. Allow for growth areas in kittens and young adults. Allow for growth ridge above the eyes in kittens and young adults, DO NOT PENALIZE. Penalize: Roman nose, round or broad head, bulging forehead, short or broad muzzle, receding chin.

Ears: Large, pointed, wide at the base, continuing the line of the triangle formed by the head. The apex being the muzzle, the base the imaginary line from ear tip to ear tip. Tilted slightly forward as if listening. Set not too flared like bat wings, or too high as seen in the Cornish Rex ears. Kittens' ears may be larger and taller than the wedge is long. Penalize: Small or short ears to put head out of balance.

Eyes: The eye aperture should be almond shaped with an Oriental slant toward the nose, so that a projection of the line, from the lower eye corner to the upper eye corner, would extend to the center of the ear base. Penalize: Round, small, bulging or unslanted eye aperture. Color - Blue only.

Body: Medium in size, long, lithe and svelte (not exceedingly large or small); the sensation of solid weight without excessive built. Males to be proportionally larger than females. Overall body structure to be fine boned. Body firm and muscular. Penalize: Cobby, short, thick or flabby body or a belly pouch.

Neck: The neck should be long and slender and carried to display length, not telescoped between the shoulders. Penalize: Short, or thick neck.

Legs and Feet: Legs long and proportionately slim, hind legs longer than front; proportioned to carry body length and weight gracefully. Feet proportionately small and oval in shape. Penalize: Short legs, heavy leg bones, large or round feet.

Tail The tail should be narrow at the base, long, tapering and whippy, giving the effect of slenderness and length (tail when brought down along hind leg should reach the tip of the foot, or tail when brought along side of body should reach shoulder); without visible abnormality of any joint. Tail to be in balance with size of cat. Penalize: Short or thick tail.

Coat: The coat should be very short, fine in texture, glossy and close lying. The close lying coat should give the impression of "being painted on".

Body Color: The body color should be even with slightly darker shadings across the shoulders, back and top of hips shading gradually into lighter color on the chest and belly. Allowance will be made for darker color in older cats, as Siamese darken with age. Penalize: Uneven body color or shading, dark spots on belly, hip spots, tabby or ticked markings on other than Lynx Points. Allowance made for nursing spots on females.

Point Color: The mask, ears, legs, feet and tail should be clearly defined in darker shade, but merge gently into body on legs (except Red, Cream, Red Lynx and Cream Lynx Points. See those colors for allowances). The mask covers the entire face and is connected to the ears by tracings. Allow for color development in kittens and young adults in the dilute and red genes. Paw pads and nose leather to be included in the point colors, as described in the color standard. Penalize: Complete hood, light hairs in the points, bars or tabby markings (Lynx and Tortie Lynx excluded). A sprinkling of white hairs in the points or lighter whisker pads probably due to a past illness should not be confused with definite patches or spots.

Condition and Balance: Hard and muscular with no indication of fat or emaciation. An appearance of good health and vitality. Gentle and amenable to handling. The overall appearance should be that of a well balanced cat. The cat should "fit together", if extreme in one part, all parts should be extreme or it is out of balance.

NFA: Mouth breathing due to nasal obstruction or poor occlusion, malocclusion resulting in either under or over shot chin. Crossed eyes; visible kink or visible abnormality of tail; spotted or complete off color tone to pads or nose leather not covered in the Tortie Point Color Standard or as in Albinos. White toes or definite patches in the points.

Accepted Colors:
Lilac Point
Lilac Lynx Point
Chocolate Tortie Point
Blue Point
Blue Lynx Point
Seal Tortie Point
Chocolate Point
Chocolate Lynx Point
Seal Point
Seal Lynx Point
Lilac Tortie Lynx Point
Red Point
Blue Tortie Lynx Point
Cream Point
Lilac Tortie Point
Chocolate Tortie Lynx Point
Blue Tortie Point
Seal Tortie Lynx Point

Revised 7/93

Source: AACE >>>